A Sydney dietitian’s quick and healthy meals for best corporate nutrition

Working extensively with many corporate clients and companies to educate and up skill in nutrition has proven to us that quick and easy meals can be a struggle. Before you hit that button for Uber Eats, check out some of our suggestions below.

Healthy balanced breakfast recipes

Breakfast smoothie:

300mL milk, frozen banana, 1xcup berries, ½ cup Greek yoghurt, 1xtsp cacao, tbsp of chia seeds, tbsp peanut butter, ice

Tip: Add all the ingredients to the blender the night before

Option: Add a shot of expresso. Trust me, it tastes amazing!

Peanut butter toast on grainy sourdough with a high protein yoghurt

Tip: Wrap your toast facing inwards to each other in aluminium foil. Buy the squeezie yoghurt options like Chobani Fit for less fuss. Lactose free? No worries, choose YoPro instead.

Healthy balanced lunch recipes

Rice, pre-packed salad & hot smoked salmon

Tip: Use ½ packet of re-heat able rice (~1 cup). My favourite is currently the Brown Rice and Buckwheat infused with Hainanese flavours. Coles and Woolies have many salad mix options like Kale Slaw, Coleslaw and leafy mixes.

Falafel wrap with tabouli and hummus

Tip: Buy some pre-made falafel (ie. Yumi’s) and use grainy wraps which are of a lower glycaemic index. This means they fill you up more and provide a steady stream of energy to the brain. If you can, why not leave all these ingredients in the fridge for the week at work?

Healthy and balanced dinner recipes

Frypan frittata

Tip: Use up all your veggies at the bottom of the fridge. Make sure to add some corn of sweet potato, as some carbohydrates at dinner can actually help with a good sleep J

Crispy red rice and lentil bake

Tip: You literally throw this all in to bake, walk away and 20 minutes later its done! You can access our recipe here: https://www.bodyfusion.com.au/blogbodyfusiondietitiansydney/2019/10/8/baked-fish

Top hydration tips leading into summer

Stay Hydrated

Up to 70% of the human (adult) body weight is water. Maintaining hydration across the day, especially during this summer heat is crucial to prevent complications, including dehydration,constipation, urinary tract infections (UTI’s), fatigue, cramping, lack of concentration and performance across the day and or during exercise.

Achieving adequate hydration is important to: 

• Help transport oxygen and nutrients to body cells, tissues and organs

• Aid in digestion

• Help to flush waste  

• Maintain thermo-regulation (internal body temperature control)

• Keep bowels regular 

• Avoid overeating and misinterpreting hunger cues as thirst

• Keep clear skin

Fluid intake is highly individualised, however according to the National Health and Medical Research Council NRV’s (Nutrition Reference Values), 1.5-2.0L (about 6-8 glasses) is recommended per day for the average adult and for pregnant women, a little more – 9-10 glasses. Having small amounts of water often across the day ensures you’re continually topping up and prevents fluid load on the body.

Setting a timer, having a glass before and or after each meal or carrying an insulated bottle with you everywhere can be a healthy way to remember! Sparkling water, fresh lemon, lime or mint can be great additions to "spicing it up", or try the hot/cold infusions by Twining's!

How do I know I am hydrated? A great indicator to keep track of your hydration status is the colour of your urine, aiming for a light yellow, clear colour. 

Happy Healthy Hydrating! Aimee & Ash :)

Baked fish with crispy rice and veggies

Serves 5

Ingredients

• 4-5x 150g white fish fillets

• 1x 400g can of lentils (drained and rinsed)

• 1x 250g microwave pack of brown rice or quinoa blend

• 250g punnet cherry tomatoes

• 1x bunch of broccolini

• 1/2 cup frozen green peas

• 1x bunch of asparagus

• 2x large zucchini

• 1x small red onion (optional)

• 4-5 cups baby spinach and rocket

• Herbs and spices - rosemary, paprika, basil, turmeric, ginger, garlic, etc

• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

• t tsp. lemon zest

• Balsamic vinegar

How to prepare and bake?

• Preheat oven to 180°C.

• Place brown rice and lentils (drained and rinsed) into a baking tray and arrange so it covers the bottom of the pan

• Dice cherry tomatoes and onion and keep asparagus and broccoli long - arrange all the veggies across the rice and lentil base + the fish fillets across the top

• Dress with olive oil, garlic, lemon and herbs and spices of your choice

• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the flesh is flaky and cooked through the middle of each fillet

• Serve with rocket/spinach and spiralled zucchini as a side salad with balsamic vinegar

Nutritional Benefits!

• High source of dietary fibre and prebiotic fibre!

• Rich in antioxidants from the array of coloured vegetables

• Great source of protein (both animal and plant-based!)

Inspired by: Aimee, Lane Cove, Wahroonga, Hunters Hill Dietitian

Moroccan Chicken Cous Cous Salad

Ingredients

Chicken

·       Olive oil – 2xtsp

·       2 cloves of garlic, crushed

·       ½ brown onion, finely sliced

·       1 tsp. paprika

·       1 tsp. cumin

·       1 tsp. turmeric

·       ½ tsp. black pepper

·       ½ tsp. red chili flakes

·       600g chicken breast (100g chicken/serve) – diced thinly

Cous cous

·       250g packet of Israeli (Pearl) cous cous

·       1xveggie stock cube

·       ½ butternut pumpkin, cubed

·       1xred capsicum, sliced

·       1xlarge zucchini, sliced

·       1xpunnet of cherry tomatoes, cut in half

·       ½ packet of finely chopped fresh mint

·       1xlemon/lime – juice squeezed

·       100g Danish feta – Finely cut into cubes

·       8-10 dried apricot halves, finely diced

·       Greek yoghurt to top

Optional: Drain a can of chickpeas or lentils and run through the mix to make it go a bit further

Method

1.    Steam pumpkin in microwave with dash of water for 4 minutes until soft

2.    Add pearl cous cous to 2.5 cups of water over medium heat, add in 1xstock cube – cook for 5-10 mins until soft and no water left. Remove and leave to cool

3.    Add oil to a pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, cook until brown.

4.    Add in the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned. Just before removing add in all spices (paprika, cumin, turmeric, pepper). Remove chicken from pan and set aside

5.    Add a little oil back into chicken fry pan and add in capsicum, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes

6.    Finally add all ingredients together in large serving bowl: Pumpkin, cous cous, chicken, cooked veggies, feta, fresh mint, apricots and Danish feta. Mix and season with pepper.

7.    Serve with generous dessert spoon of greek yoghurt on top

Nutrition – Did you know?

·       Keeping water when you steam veggies means you retain the nutrients in the water. Don’t throw it away and use

water sparingly when steaming!

·       Pepper increases the bioavailability of turmeric by 2000 %

·       Spices contain large amounts of anti-oxidants which are thought to prevent ageing in our cells

·       Pearl cous cous is lower GI than normal cous cous, keeping us fuller for longer

·       You can reduce the salt in this meal by adding in your own home made stock or perhaps its salty enough with the

Danish Feta

How to tell if you suffer from IBS! Common symptoms, causes & solutions

Does it ever look like there’s a balloon under your shirt after a seemingly normal sized meal, do you have to run to bathroom after a large coffee or experience pain or cramping having eaten a cabbage slaw? What you are experiencing may not be normal. IBS is a term that means Irritable Bowel Syndrome and unlike other conditions there isn’t just one specific symptom that means you have IBS. Hence, the solution for each person differs – significantly!

It can be difficult to know if what you feel in your stomach and gut is ‘normal’ so we thought we’d explore some of the common symptoms and causes to help inform you.

The most common symptoms of IBS are:

·      Pronounced bloating, a feeling a fullness during and/or after eating (ladies – this means more so than that experienced during your menstrual cycle)

·      Abdominal pain (either acute or throbbing)

·      Swing in bowel motions (diarrheoa to constipation)

·      Excessive gas & flatulence

·      Nausea

·      Reflux

·      Fatigue & lethargy

Before you start self-diagnosing or cutting out food groups, STOP. Get tested by your doctor first for the following:

·      Inflammatory bowel disease

·      Diverticultiis

·      Coaeliac Disease

·      Lactose Intolerance

If you have been tested and the results are all clear, then it may be time to look at some other triggers, this is when seeing an Accredited Practising Dietitian becomes essential. They will make sure that you don’t start avoiding foods unnecessarily as this can actually do more harm than good! Additionally they can balance your nutritional intake and implement tasty substitutes once you start manipulating your intake to identify trigger foods.

Why do some people get IBS and others don’t?

Sufferers of IBS have more sensitive GI tracts, meaning that movement of the gut caused by the digestion of food is perceived as pain by their brains. The different types and amounts of bacteria are one the fundamental causes of IBS, below are some of the some common food culprits:

1.    Windy Vegetables

We often refer to some vegetables as windy, because they cause a large release of gas in the gut when they are digested. They often include: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and sprouts. In those with more sensitive guts, the large amount of insoluble fibre in these vegetables can cause bloating and flatulence. Remember a small amount of farting is normal, if wind persists for hours after a meal or is particularly uncomfortable then you maybe experiencing a bigger reaction.

2.     FODMAPs

These are a group of sugars present in food that pass mostly undigested through your gastrointestinal tract to the large bowel. Here bacteria that live in your bowel feed on these carbohydrate molecules and produce gas, which can cause abdominal discomfort. In individuals with a sensitive gut or an overgrowth of gut bacteria, this may cause symptoms of IBS.

The different groups are:

Excess fructose: eg. Apples, Honey, Pears, Mangoes, Sugar snap peas

Excess Lactose: Large quantities of milk, soft cheese and ice cream

Excess Sugar Polyols: eg. artifical sweetners like isomalt & xylitol,  apricots, cauliflower and mushrooms

Excess Fructans: Wheat, Rye,Barley, Garlic & Leek.

Galacto-oligosaccharides: Legumes like chickpeas, lentils & nuts.

These sugars can be eliminated, and then challenges of these sugars introduced to your gut to determine which class of these sugars produces symptoms. However this is never recommended unless under the guidance of an experienced dietitian.

Big contributors to IBS are also high fat meals, stress, medications, caffeine and alcohol. These all affect the sensitivity of the gut and alter its activity. Be sure to consider this as part of your treatment.

If your gut has caused you some grief, we’d really like to help you out! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our gut friendly team members so we can provide some help and assistance.

Sending health & happiness,

Ash, Kat & Em :)

Flour Guide: Nutrition, Baking & Best Uses

With the number of flours available in the supermarket today, it can be overwhelming (What the hell is TEFF?!). This guide looks at some of the most popular flours used in everyday cooking and mentions some new flours that are available in stores. We share our top picks at the bottom of the blog to keep your delicious baking producing healthy outcomes too!

Grains 101

·       In Australia, wheat based flour is commonly used by food manufacturers and individuals at home. Wheat grains are ground down and sifted in a process called milling, to produce flour.

·       There are three major parts of a cereal grain: the endosperm, bran and germ.

·       Different components of any grain may be left in or taken out depending on how it is milled. This will produce different kinds of flour.  

WHITE FLOUR

In white flour, both the bran and germ have been removed via milling. As the bran and germ contain more dietary fibre than the endosperm, white flour has a light consistency. Many micronutrients including B vitamins, iron and magnesium are found in greater concentrations in the bran and germ layers of the grain. Therefore, white flour contains less of these nutrients. However, flour may be restored with some of these lost nutrients and may also be fortified with additional nutrients such as folic acid and iodine.

Uses: White flour is commonly used to make bread, pizza dough or sweet bakes such as cakes, muffins and scones. White flour is often used as a thickener for gravies and sauces.

Nutrition

 WHOLEMEAL FLOUR

Incorporates the bran layer of the wheat grain, which makes this flour higher in fibre, protein as well as vitamins and minerals (e.g. niacin (B3) and iron). This flour may also be fortified with additional micronutrients.

Uses: Like white flour, wholemeal flour may be used to make sweet/savoury breads or doughs or cakes, muffins and scones

RYE FLOUR

Derived from the rye grain, rye flour is milled in a similar fashion to wheat. A little harder to find and more expensive than wheat flour, you may have to venture outside major supermarket chains to find rye flour. Rye flour comes in both dark and light varieties. Light rye is lighter than dark rye and contains less calories, fibre and protein per.

Uses: Rye flour may be used to make breads, pumpernickel, crispbreads, or biscuits.

SPELT FLOUR

Spelt is an ancient grain, cultivated over thousands of years. This grain is rich in several vitamins and minerals including B vitamins (thiamin, niacin and folate), magnesium, copper, iron and manganese. Spelt is a high protein, high fibre flour making it a great alternative to wheat flour.

Uses: May be used to make dense breads, biscuits or pastas. Spelt is quite flavoursome so is best for savoury dishes.

GLUTEN FREE FLOUR

Gluten free flour is generally a mix of various gluten free flours including corn and tapioca starch and rice flour. Due to the ingredients, this flour is quite low in protein compared to other flours.

Uses: Gluten free plain or self-raising flour can be used to make a variety of dishes including breads, cakes, muffins, batters and can be used as a thickener for sauces/gravies.

COCONUT FLOUR

Derived from the pulp of the coconut, coconut flour is a soft, light flour. It is a by-product made during the coconut milk making process. Coconut flour is also extremely high in flbre and a good source of protein. This flour absorbs a lot of liquid, therefore much less is required to make a certain product (e.g. muffins) than wheat flour.

Uses: Coconut flour may be used to make cupcakes or muffins, cakes, biscuits, pancakes and breads. It may also be used as a gluten free alternative for batter.

QUINOA FLOUR

Derived from another ancient grain, quinoa flour is high in fibre and protein, and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals including B vitamins, magnesium, iron and phosphate.

Uses: Quinoa flour produces quite a moist bake, and is good for muffins, cakes, pastries or sweet/savoury breads.

CHICKPEA FLOUR

You may or may not have seen chickpea flour in your local supermarket. As this flour is derived from chickpeas, it contains a significant amount of protein along with B vitamins and dietary fibre.

Uses: Chickpea flour may be used to bake cakes, breads and biscuits or for pancakes, fritters or batter

LENTIL FLOUR

Like chickpea flour, lentil flour is relatively new to the supermarket. Made purely from uncooked lentils, this flour provides a nutty flavour to dishes. Lentils are a great source of protein, dietary fibre and micronutrients such as iron, phosphate and copper.

Uses: Like chickpea flour, lentil flour may be used in a variety of dishes including sweet or savoury breads, cakes, muffins, fritters and to make batter.

TEFF FLOUR

Teff has long been used in Ethiopia as a staple grain, but it is relatively new to Western. Like quinoa, Teff is a good source of dietary fibre and protein. This gluten free flour is also rich in several micronutrients including B vitamins, calcium and iron.

Uses: Teff flour has an earthy, nutty taste and is a great gluten free alternative to wheat flour in cakes, muffins, breads and other bakes.

BUCKWHEAT FLOUR

Surprisingly, buckwheat is not a type of wheat. In fact, the buckwheat plant is related to rhubarb. Buckwheat flour is gluten free, and often used as a replacement for wheat. Buckwheat is available as both dark and light flours. Dark buckwheat is more flavoursome than light. Another high protein flour, buckwheat also contains several micronutrients including iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

Uses: Dark buckwheat flour is great for making crepes or pancakes, whilst lighter buckwheat flour may be used to make biscuits, muffins, rolls and bread. As buckwheat is quite strong, it is best used along with another flour (e.g. rice flour) to reduce the nutty taste.

OUR TOP PICKS NUTRITION WISE

Rye Flour: Particularly dark flour which is higher in protein than the light variety. With 300 calories/cup (vs. 500 in white and wholemeal), 10.5g of protein and 9.1g of fibre as well as being of a moderate glycaemic index it could be a good baking option, particularly if you enjoy making your own bread. Its also relatively cheap $3/kg.

Lentil Flour: With 333 calories/cup (5th lowest out of 15 compared) its high in protein 25.4g and fibre 15.9g and comes in at a medium price range, $9/kg.

Teff Flour: Teff was the flour highest in protein with 39g/cup! It also rated high in terms of fibre (12.5g) and was sitting at 225 calories. However it is a little more expensive, $13/kg

To learn more about the nutritional composition of flours best to talk to us in the clinic - we love baking!!

References/Further Information

Most this nutritional information was obtained from calorieking.com.au. Nutrient information on lentil flour was taken from mckenziesfoods.com.au

Note: The nutritional information provided on this guide refers to uncooked flour

[1] Honest to Goodness foods

[2] https://thesourcebulkfoods.com.au/shop/cooking/organic-buckwheat-flour-gf/

[3] https://www.tooshfoods.com.au/shop/cooking-and-baking/organic-teff-flour/

Body Fusion Spilt Milk Series #1: Dairy and Alternate Milks Comparison

Quite recently we have had a growing number of clients and friends asking about milk selection, as the options in supermarkets and coffee shops seems to be growing exponentially.

“Ash/Kat, should I be drinking almond milk?!” Great question, should you?

We thought we would put it to the test, by asking the facebook herd what they wanted to know about MILK and many udderly fantastic questions came my way; Should I really be drinking full cream again? Are there added hormones? Is organic really better? What about lactose free diets? Does anyone really know how A2 milk is any different?

Let’s get started with a focus on alternate milks that are increasingly in popularity in comparison to regular dairy and for whom they may be recommended.

Almond Milk

It’s popping up everywhere including recipes and even in café’s. Some of the common brands we looked at you can see below:

Per 250mL serving

My most common worry with almond milk is that as you can see, a couple of the brands are not fortified with calcium! The other thing is almond milk, although lower in energy and natural sugar compared to many other types of milk, is also much lower in protein (Regular dairy milk has about 8-9g/serve). Protein is a very important nutrient to fill us up. To tell the truth unless you need to drink this, or REALLY enjoy the taste, it wouldn’t be my recommendation.

Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, most people who are following the low FODMAP diet, those with soy and milk protein allergies

Not suitable for: Nut allergies

Soy Milk

Soy has been shrouded with some reputation of not being safe for consumption but we can assure you for majority of people (excluding those who have had some cancers or a strong history of cancers) it is a safe and healthy option. Many studies have proven soy to beneficial for healthy cholesterol levels.

We evaluated a few different soymilk brands on the market including Vitasoy, So Good, Pure Harvest, Bonsoy (only 51mg calcium/serve) and Australian’s Own (no calcium). Similar to the almond milk there were some unsweetened options. Good in theory if you want to reduce your energy intake but if you’re after taste, forget it! Most brands had about 7.5/8g of protein per serve, which is a lot more than other milks (rice, almond, oat).

We then stumbled across Vitasoy Calciplus and So Good Essentials. So Good Essential got my vote, with half as much sugar per serve compared to Vitasoy Calciplus and an extra 100mg calcium per serve compared to other soy milks. It was also fortified which I thought could be useful for some people, vitamins C (50%), E (23%), niacin, D2 (50%), A (15%), B12 (50%), B2 (25%), B6 (22%), B1 (23%), folate (44%), iron (19%), phosphorus (23%).

Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, milk protein allergies, iron deficient, people with low vitamin D or people with/at risk of osteoporosis.

Rice, Oat and Coconut milks

Rice milk is very sweet tasting and higher in natural sugars than other milks. Both Australian’s Own and Vitasoy were fortified with calcium (300mg), which was a win. However its important to note that rice milk is of a high glycaemic index and like almond milk, low in protein (<1.5g/serve). You’d be drinking bucket loads to try and feel full.

Suitable for: People following the elimination diet or who really don’t like any other milk (last resort!)

Oat milks are probably the newest to the market. Pure Harvest has no calcium. Alternatively we were very impressed by the Vitasoy Oat Milk, Bone Essentials: With Vitamin D and Phosphorus. It is to be noted however; the vitamin D in this milk is only 13% of RDI’s compared to the So Good Essentials 50%. This milk also contains 1.5g of beta-glucan per serve, a type of fibre that has been undeniably linked to reducing cholesterol levels. 

Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, milk protein allergies, people with low vitamin D or people with/at risk of osteoporosis, seed allergy (contains no vegetable oil), soy allergy, those with high cholesterol

Not suitable for: Coeliacs

Coconut milk is not to be confused with the cans of coconut milk you find in the Indian section in the supermarket. These are found in the long life milk section. With only 3 options: Vitasoy Unsweetened, Vitasoy Original and Pure Harvest we were not overly impressed. There was no calcium in the Pure Harvest but 300mg/serve in the others. All these milks were very low in protein 0.38-1.4g. The only difference between the original and unsweetened Vitasoy versions was that the Original had raw sugar added. Additionally the coconut unsweetened contained inulin, which for the average person is a great prebiotic but for coeliac or those sensitive to FODMAPs often a reactive starch.

Suitable for: Vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, milk protein allergies, seed allergy (contains no vegetable oil), soy allergy

Dairy Milk: Full Cream and Skim

As you can see with dairy milks, A2 included, are the milk highest in protein, fantastic for filling you up. This protein also contains amino acids leucine and casein, perfect for repairing muscles after a workout. Fat content varies from skim through to full fat varieties, consequently explaining energy variance. The calcium content is quite similar to alternate milks.

Most suitable for: Everyday milk drinkers, athletes or exercisers post workout, hungry people (which may include those after weightloss), under eaters who are struggling to keep weight on eating solid food.

Lactose Free Milk

For those who do not tolerate milk well, lactose free milk is always an option. Lactose free milks are just regular milk with an added enzyme called lactase to help the body break down the lactose in the milk. Lactose free milk therefore contains the same amount of protein, fat and energy as regular dairy milks. The calcium content is a little lower 300mg vs. 320/330mg than in regular milk.

Special mention here to Liddell’s lactose free UHT High Calcium Skim. One serve (250mL) contains a whopping 500mg of calcium and 9.7g of protein! It does contain 15g of sugar, which is a lot higher than all other milks analysed. HOWEVER interestingly on the ingredients list there is not any added sugar, so it must come from concentration during processing. Zymil High Calcium is a close follow-up, with 405mg calcium/serve, 12.8g sugar and 9.3g of protein.

Suitable for: Lactose intolerant people, anyone who doesn’t like drinking huge volumes of dairy, people with low vitamin D or people with/at risk of osteoporosis, perhaps elderly people who aren’t eating huge volumes of food

Our Top Picks from each group:

Almond Milk: Almond Breeze Unsweetened

Soy Milk: So Good Essential

Oat Milk: Vitasoy Oat Bone Essentials

Lactose Free: Liddells Full Cream & Liddells High Calcium

Well there you have it! A great jump down the rabbit hole to compare and contrast the different nutritional benefits and suitability of different milks. Our next blog will explore skim vs. full cream dairy milk vs A2. We will also discuss high protein milk. Stay tuned for that!

If you are after an informed and educated dietitian to understand more about how to meet your nutrition needs maybe its time to book in! We'd love to see you: 0426 500 251 (Ash)/0410 533 213 (Kat) or shoot us an email inquiries@bodyfusion.com.au. 

Time to get mOOving. :)

Ash & Kat

Nutrition for Mental Health

According to the Mental Health Commission in Australia adequate mental health is “a sense of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem”. It enables us to fully enjoy and appreciate other people, day-to-day life and our environment. This allows us to deal with life’s challenges, use our abilities to reach our potential and form healthy relationships.

Fact: One in Five Australians suffer from a mental illness every year such as bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Fact: Along with high blood pressure, depression is the number one cause of early death

Now I don’t know about you, but I am a pretty proactive and happy person who sees that there is much joy for many of us to experience in a lifetime. Sure the rollercoaster of life is going to present its challenges but I’d like to think we could learn, grow and overcome many of our obstacles. Easier said then done.

Working as Dietitian’s we have a phenomenal opportunity to influence our client’s lives in positive ways to improve their enjoyment of their lives.

One example that comes to mind is an old client of mine who gave up his addictive drinking, started eating healthily and lost weight. Not only did he then have a huge improvement in his health, but also increased energy and productivity, an improved relationship with his wife and most noticeably never hung over and missing his kid’s soccer games on a Saturday ever again.

When it comes to mental health nutrition can be a powerful influencer.

Here are a couple of examples of foods that support mental health:

Omega-3: Omega 3 is a polyunsaturated fat that is commonly found in fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon, ocean trout and sardines. It can also be found in nuts and seeds, some of the highest sources being flaxseeds and walnuts.

B Vitamins (Includes folate): Sources of folate include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and asparagus, as well as legumes and lentils. Folate plays a crucial role in healthy brain development. It also helps to form red blood cells and produce DNA.

Zinc: Deficiencies in zinc in both men and women has been associated with a greater incidence of depression (Vashum KP et al 2014). Zinc can be found in lean meats such as beef, oysters, whole grains and seeds (particularly pumpkin and sesame).

Probiotics for a healthy gut: Modulation of gut microbiota may prove to be a therapeutic target for the treatment and/or prevention of mood and anxiety disorders. A recent randomised control trial (Steenbergen L 2015) has stated that “participants who received the 4-week multispecies probiotics intervention showed a significantly reduced overall cognitive reactivity to sad mood, which was largely accounted for by reduced rumination and aggressive thoughts.”

Although this is emerging research, I would not be surprised if we see more studies proving the same. We already know that the gastrointestinal tract can activate neural pathways and central nervous system signalling systems in the brain.

 Mental Health for children and adolescents: Nutrition in early life

Emerging research suggests that early in the lifespan a healthy diet has an important relationship with mental health risks. This is especially because the onset of anxiety and mood disorders is on average from age 13-16 years.

A recent systematic review that included 12 studies (Adrienne O’Neil et al in 2014) found evidence of a significant cross-sectional relationship between unhealthy dietary patterns and poorer mental health in children and adolescents.

In align with the above research this study also noted that diets of a poorer quality were missing essential nutrients that played a role in mental health:

• The dietary intake of folate, zinc, and magnesium were inversely associated with depressive disorders
• Dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids were inversely related to anxiety disorders

Of mention physical activity here also played a significant role and was positive for mental health.

Take home message:

Everybody deserves the right to good mental health and a happy life. If you feel like you could benefit from increased mood or mental health support with nutrition, then we would be more than happy to support you in our clinic at Body Fusion.

References:

J Affect Disord. 2014, Dietary zinc is associated with a lower incidence of depression: findings from two Australian cohorts. Sep;166:249-57. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.05.016. Epub 2014 May 23.

Steenbergen L1, Sellaro R2, van Hemert S3, Bosch JA4, Colzato LS5, A randomized controlled trial to test the effect of multispecies probiotics on cognitive reactivity to sad mood. Brain Behav Immun. 2015 Aug;48:258-64. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 7.

O'Neil A1, Quirk SE, Housden S, Brennan SL, Williams LJ, Pasco JA, Berk M, Jacka FN. Relationship between diet and mental health in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Am J Public Health. 2014 Oct;104(10):e31-42. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302110.

Top Tips for a Healthier Easter

It's that time of year again. The supermarkets are stocked with mountains of golden alluring bunnies, the easter hat parade was a great success and the you've had a Mexican stand off with that hot cross bun sitting on the middle of the staff table for about the last 2 hours.

Here are some tips from our expert dietitian's to help your healthy behaviours around Easter:

1. Don’t fight your cravings:

Studies have proven that if you go out of your way to deny your cravings there is a good chance you will overindulge. There is no point being in denial, it is Easter! Accept that you will be having a small amount of chocolate or an occasional hot cross bun and that is OK. 

2. Choose quality over quantity (less is more!):

Your food experience should be one of pure pleasure. Smell, observe, hear and taste your chocolate. Is there a scent of vanilla? Does it sound crunchy when you bite into it? Do you notice the taste and flavour vanish after you swallow?

Why are you popping mediocre Easter chocolate into your mouth if you could be slowly and mindfully enjoying a small Lindt bunny? So not worth it!

Make sure you are paying attention whilst you are eating! Gobbling down easter eggs mindlessly isn’t satisfactory, especially if you can’t remember it. 

Too much chocolate on a regular bases can be detrimental to health as it is high in saturated fat and energy. For example a 200g Lindt bunny = 1086 calories, where are the average adult would need about 1500-2000 calories/day to maintain their body weight.

3. Out of sight, out of mind: 

Be honest with yourself: If it’s in your house you are going to eat it. Try to minimise how much you bring home from work or give to family members as a gift. After all, “Sharing is caring". Some of our clients find it useful to freeze their chocolate so they are not tempted to eat it or to put it completely out of sight.

4. Don’t skip meals: 

Only chocolate for breakfast or any other meal is a horrible idea. Chocolate is high GI as it contains much simple processed sugar and spikes your insulin. This does not fill you up for long, which could result in many other consequent binges later on. Remember to eat 5 small healthily spaced meals (this includes small snacks morning and afternoon) with plenty of grains, fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy omega-3 fats throughout the day. 

5. Find healthy alternatives to celebrate Easter: 

We need to remember what Easter is about. 100% it has religious connotations but for most people religious or not it also symbolises family. For my example my friend Steph is Greek and she explained their Christmas involves all attending late night mass, having a homemade 12am feast in the kitchen with family and cracking eggs against eachothers heads! (Sounds fun to me). You can check Steph out on instagram @steph.zervos, she's a sprinter training for the Commonwealth Games and an awesome PT.

Just remember:

• You don’t have to eat 20 bunnies to feel closer to your family or friends
• A healthy BBQ, dinner out or another non food based activity with friends or family to celebrate can be just as special

Here are some other healthy ideas

• Painting eggs with children.
• Making healthy food into easter bunnies and chicks, get the kids involved here. The more hands on, the better! (See below photos)
• Making healthy chocolate alternatives: Check Kat's previous blog out for a yummy example: http://bodyfusion.com.au/blog/2016/3/21/choc-almond-easte
• Home made hot cross buns made with wholemeal, rye or spelt flour. We love Teresa Cutter's recipe. Check her out!
• Choosing dark chocolate varieties of chocolate, higher in cacao which in small amounts does has positive links to reducing blood pressure and preventing cancer due to polyphenol conten

6.    Adapt a positive attitude: The world isn’t going to ever run out of chocolate

Why do we need to go crazy in one weekend? Reality is, you can still eat chocolate as a part of a healthy diet! Daily in fact. If you do indulge, well tomorrow is another day. Let it go! Get back on the horse or of course check in with a Dietitian if you need some support and direction.

Happy Easter everyone! Enjoy. 

Ash and Kat :)

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST YOGHURT FOR YOU

Ever been stuck freezing in the dairy aisle deciding between natural or greek style yoghurt? No added sugar or fruit flavoured?  Full fat or low fat? Yoghurt is eaten in many households but how does yours stack up – is it really as healthy as you thought or is it packed with added sugar, saturated fat or both?

Greek yoghurt vs. Natural Yoghurt

Greek yoghurt is higher in fat compared to natural yogurt. It is made by straining the milk mixture through a cloth/paper filter, giving it its creamy consistency. Traditional natural yoghurt on the other hand is lower in fat and is more liquidy because it isn’t strained.

FAST FACT: In Greece strained yoghurt is traditionally made from sheep’s milk, but in Australia cow’s milk is used instead, that’s why you’ll see them labelled as ‘greek style; yoghurt.

Full fat or low fat?

Now this is a very topical debate and there isn’t a clear-cut answer because it comes down to individual preference and dietary/medical priorities. Full fat yoghurts are higher in saturated fats than their skim partners. We know saturated fat isn’t as detrimental to health as it was once perceived to be, HOWEVER it still doesn’t have any other health benefits like your unsaturated fats (eg olive, sunflower, canola oils, avocado, nuts/seeds, fatty fish). So why spend your energy there when you can spend it elsewhere on health promoting fats instead?

‘Full, regular or whole’ dairy products are higher in fat meaning they are more energy dense (because fat has more kj/gram compared to protein and carbohydrate). This quickly fills up your fat quota for the day making it difficult to achieve the calorie deficit required for weight loss.

 Which one to choose?

BOTH are great choices if eaten in their unflavoured form. Checkout the table below, full fat greek yoghurt has significantly higher fat content than full fat natural. Once we get down to the reduced fat varieties there is still slightly less difference between them. (I haven’t included no fat varieties here because they would clearly have the same amount of fat).

Recommended natural & greek yoghurts:

Sweetened or unsweetened?

The ultimate choice is ALWAYS unsweetened, some fruit flavoured tubs like Dairy Farmers Thick & Creamy and Gippsland Raspberry & Coconut, have around 28g sugar (6 teaspoons!). Sugar will never be less than 5g/100g because that is the naturally occurring lactose sugar that comes from cows. It is the added sugar that you want to avoid, so aim for <10g/100g , if choosing a fruit flavoured yoghurt. If like many people you need to retrain your taste buds swapping from flavoured to plain can be hard. Lucky for you the market is flooded with options so here is our advice:  

Step 1. Trial a semi sweetened variety, eg. Black Swam Naturally Sweet Breakfast Yoghurt 

Step 2. Trial some different brands of fruit flavoured natural or greek style without added sugars BELOW 10g/100g.

·      Jalna Fruit

·      Baramabah berry

·      Tamar Valley no added sugar

Step 3. Trial unflavoured natural or greek style and add flavour yourself, like crushed nuts, sunflower/pepita seeds, cinnamon or fresh fruit.

SHOPPING GUIDE:

Flavour = Plain natural or greek style.

Fat = Low in sat fat :<3g/100g

Sugars: = <10g/100g (if flavoured)

Calcium= 300mg/ serve

Now it comes down to personal preference, which one are you?

1.     Weight loss/management: Swap to lower fat, save yourself the extra energy and spend it elsewhere in your day.

2.     Can’t stand the taste of low fat: Stick with full fat and reduce your portion size. Eg. 200g à 125g.

3.     Sugar craver? Try stepping down and adding your own flavours. This takes time so be patient and persistent.

4.     One bad experience? – Try, try, try again. With so many varieties available now there is likely to be at least one you like.

Remember a 200g portion of yoghurt counts as 1 serve of dairy that can be eaten everyday! Use it for breakfast, as a snack, in a smoothie or in dressings. If you get confused reading labels or want to know what products are best suited to you then don’t hesitate to contact us at Body Fusion.

**Body Fusion and this author is not affiliated with or compensated by any companies, brands or products discussed in this review.